Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Accent from the Nuit Infinie de Chanel Collection for Holiday 2013 - Swatched

Time for a little break from Guerlain holiday? I have more to show you, but I thought you might enjoy a Chanel interlude, especially one that's awesome. Why not start with Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Accent ($43) from the Nuit Infinie de Chanel Collection for Holiday 2013. I had misgivings when I ordered it sight unseen from Nordstrom (fear that it was too brown), but the moment it arrived, I fell in love.

Accent, a limited-edition mauve-brown tone (Chanel calls it beige) is stunningly gorgeous. The moment I tried it, I drew in my breath and considered breaking my rule and buying a second (for back-up) immediately. This blush is a game changer, so I predict another one will be mine when the holiday collection arrives at one of Lizette's stores (I have to stick with my regional Chanel powerhouse): Neiman Marcus or Saks.

I cannot imagine a face that won't find something to love about Accent. Now only will it serve as a blush, it's a great shade for a fall bronzer and for contouring. It should to with all but the darkest skin tones, and even then it might be a great highlighting blush. I don't think I need to tell you "all about Joues Contraste Powder Blush." It's legendary.

I took swatch photos in full, mid-day sun. I swatched at the top of my arm with a sponge-tipped applicator, then I used its own brush for the larger swatch below.

Look at this color! Unique? Yes. Subtly shimmering for life? Yes.  Gorgeous color? Yes, it's my kind of look-at-me, not my makeup shade. Please do not focus on the Band-Aid scum or the little wound at the top of my arm, the results of a play session with my jungle boy. He plays to win.

I think Accent is the best Chanel blush I've purchased in at least a year - and I love all of them. It's that special to me. What do you think? Will it jolt you out of your no-buy, frugal fall and make its way onto your must-have list?

The Nuit Infinie de Chanel Collection for Holiday 2013 will be making its way into the stores this month. It is available at Nordstrom at this link. It does not seem to be available yet on Chanel.com, but should be soon.

Photo at top courtesy of Nordstrom; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Crazy 68 Rouge G de Guerlain in Provocative from the Guerlain Holiday 2013 Crazy Paris Collection

The always elegant Rouge G ($49.50) has been reinvented for the holiday season. The sophisticated limited-edition black lacquered case opens to reveal a deep luxurious "pink" called Provocative (#863). As with the classic Rouge G, the holiday edition contains a discreet built-in compact mirror, allowing for easy and precise application. Forget for a moment that it's heavy. It's not pink either.

You know this isn't my favorite Guerlain lipstick because of its weight. I toyed with whether to order it - sight unseen. The photos I had seen threw it in my cart (so to speak). Given that this lipstick is red, it's not a good color for me - too dark. Anyone who loves red lipstick should find it marvelous.

Do you see any similarity between my photo and the press photo at the top of this feature? My photo was taken in full, lunchtime sunshine, and the color in the photo looks exactly like what you see in my photo directly above. I took my swatch photos at the same time in full sun.

Sorry about the Band-Aid scum on my arm. I tried to get it off, but it wants to wear off. Charlie speared me this morning when we were playing. There is a very nasty wound on the other side of my arm. Anyhow, what color would you call this?

It's provocative, but it's not "deep, vibrant pink" (as Guerlain described it) to my eyes. Fortunately, one of my very best friends loves red lipstick. She's a fair blonde too, but she (the former actress) can pull it off.

I purchased mine from the Guerlain Boutique in Las Vegas. If you would like to order now, call Jonathan at (702) 732-7008. You will love him. Otherwise, look for it soon at your favorite Guerlain counter.

Photo at top courtesy of Guerlain; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Guerlain Crazy Paris Eye Palette from the Guerlain Holiday 2013 Crazy Paris Collection

I love the look designed for Guerlain's Crazy Paris Holiday 2013 Collection, which pays homage to Paris' dazzling lights. The neon colors infused into this collection are as festive and fabulous as the city itself.

In celebration of the reopening of 68 Champs Elysees, the legendary Guerlain flagship boutique reopening this winter, Crazy Paris is designed with a vibrant "68" engraving. The limited-edition pieces in this collection are playful and incredibly charming, with colors that verge on exuberance. Crazy Paris celebrates all that makes the holiday season so exciting and unforgettable.

The Crazy Paris Eye Palette ($86) is the distinctive centerpiece of an extraordinary collection. Guerlain’s holiday collectors’ palette is a complete eye makeup kit for all occasions, whether an office party or a night on the town. The grey and black matte powder liners - to be used wet or dry - are perfect for defining the eyes, while the four alluring shadows in beige, copper, white, and festive hot pink can be used alone or blended together to create gorgeous, sexy eyes.

The Crazy Paris Eye Palette is enclosed in a sleek black lacquered case and opens to reveal a large panoramic mirror illuminated with the letters "P.A.R.I.S." in an electric pink.

Isn't this palette unique? When I first saw it, I wondered how I would use it. What shades would I combine. I have come to realize that the possibilities range from wild and wacky to conservative or flirty.

I took swatch photos in full, mid-day sun, using a sponge-tipped applicator to swatch. My application was moderate to heavy. I started with the copper at the top and moved down the horizontal shades. Then I swatched the black and grey liner shades. The grey is actually a dual-use shade. I like it as an eye shadow, not just an eyeliner.

The copper shade at the top of my arm is stunning. I paired it with the "beige," which is really a light gold. Perfection!

The white is white. The nice thing about it is that it's well-pigmented and stays put. Whites don't always do that. I can't wait to play with it, trying it out with the grey and the pink. Somehow, even if it takes help from a professional makeup artist, I'm going to figure out how to wear that pink on my eyelids. Normally, pink and I - especially bright pink - don't get along because of my coloring.

I really like the grey shade. It's medium in tone, making it extremely versatile. The inky black is provides a dramatic liner for day or night.

As you would expect from Guerlain, everything about the formula, texture, finish, and wear of these eye colors is absolutely perfect. While the palette is luxury priced, it offers luxury for your investment. I have nothing to "dissect" or criticize. Crazy Paris is as good as it gets. I love the fact that the selection of shades broke the mold.

I purchased mine from the Guerlain Boutique in Las Vegas. If you would like to order now, call Jonathan at (702) 732-7008. You will love him. Otherwise, look for it soon at your favorite Guerlain counter.

Photo at top courtesy of Guerlain; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

The Friday Forum - October 4

The dogwoods are amont the first trees to show the signs of fall in my garden. Mine aren't this pretty. They look a bit curled too - primary because we have been in a drought.

This past week, my bedroom started to look like a beauty counter. I have so much to tell you, but only so much time to write. The new Guerlain and Chanel collections are next up, along with photos of upcoming collections and a few "odds and ends" I purchased form various sources. I have a lot of fragrances to feature. I find it harder to write about fragrance than makeup, so I'll intersperse those features as I can.

Those of you in Los Angeles (Beverly Hills) and New York will see totally renovated Barneys beauty floors. According to WWD, "the result is a more universal look that exudes Barneys’ modernism. 'We have really been on a quest to create Barneys’ environment in terms of our own architecture and our own aesthetic,' Lee said. 'At the end of the day, what comes out from the design is the products themselves. Ultimately, each brand is also identified by their product, by their packaging, by the colors of their brand and that’s what will come out of the neutral environment.'" Let us know what you think if you shop regularly at these stores.

For Jean Patou fragrance fans, the brand is on a come-back. Although best known for the iconic Joy, Patou had many exquisite perfumes in its stable. One of my favorites was Vacances. We know the house will be re-introducing their famous men's fragrance, but I'm hoping that we see Vacances, Colony, and some other favorites re-launced. I'm sure they won't be the same, with all the new regulations of ingredients, but I can hope.

Have you kept up with the recent runway shows? I have to some extent. Unfortunately, the looks were costume-ish and made as much sense to today's professional as Halloween costumes. Very little tempted me to shop.

It's time for the Friday Forum. I love this part of our week. What new products did you discover this week? Did you find any deals you couldn't resist? Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Do you have a question others might be able to answer? Want to talk about skin care? What's new in your life? Just use the comments. Don't be shy. Just make sure to ask any question you might have over the weekend. By early the next week, most (not all) readers will have moved on.

I hope you have a great weekend!

Photo courtesy of thedailysouth.southernliving.com

Guerlain Crazy 68 Rouge Automatique from the Holiday 2013 Crazy Paris Collection

I have received the Guerlain Holiday collection pieces I ordered from the Guerlain Boutique in Las Vegas, and I can now see in person why the anticipation has been building. I decided to start my collection series with two gorgeous Crazy 68 Rouge Automatique Hydrating Long Lasting Lip Colours ($35). Over the next few days, I will be able to show you most of the rest of the collection, along with brand new Chanel and a few other treasures. Stick with me.

The limited-edition Crazy 68's come in snazzy Rouge Automatique tubes that are black and orange. The color shown on the left above is #660, Illusion, and the color on the right is #661, Reflex. I think both are beautiful.

The Rouge Automatique color emerges from the black tube when you slide the orange lever, which opens the cap and reveals the color bullet. You can push the lever up only as far as you need to use the lipstick without breaking it.

“Lipstick is an accessory — you should have fun with it,” said Creative Director Olivier Echaudemaison of both the color and the way it is accessed. He noted that Rouge Automatique is intended to be a midpoint between the brand’s sophisticated Rouge G and the classic KissKiss lipsticks - both of which I love, but KissKiss was always my favorite of the two.

The finish and performance offer shine and a long last (up to three hours), according to Isabelle Hébant, who was the Group Manager of Makeup and Marketing Development for Guerlain when Rouge Automatique was introduced. “It is intended to have a second skin effect on the lips, which is accomplished by a low gradient fusion point - when the formula touches the lips, it becomes liquid,” she said of the brand’s proprietary Crystal Pigment technology. “This formula involves pigments encapsulated in glass, which makes colors true and vivid."

I took swatch photos in bright overcast early today. The sun was not as bright as I would have liked, but it was sufficient to show the colors well.

The rose-fuschia-pink shade at the top of my arm is Illusion, and the coral-rose is Reflex. I'm delighted with both. The colors are bright and may take some "getting used to" on my part. I think I'll succeed because they offer the Rouge Automatique semi-sheerness.

A few pieces from the collection are available currently at Sephora, and the full collection is available at the Guerlain Boutique. Call Jonathan at (702) 732-7008 if you would like to order now. If you want to wait, the collection should be arriving at Guerlain counters this month.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Giorgio Armani Beauty Rouge Ecstasy in Pink 509, Boudoir

Giorgio Armani Beauty's fairly new Rouge Ecstasy Lipstick ($34) earned a place in my bathroom (where only the best makeup is available) with the first three shades I purchased. Now, I finally have my hands on Pink 509, Boudoir, a shade that was so popular, it blew out of stores when it arrived.

With Rouge Ecstasy, the Giorgio Armani laboratories push the boundaries of the exceptional even further with the first "CC" lipstick. CC stands for Color & Care, a new innovative hybrid product that marks the start of a new era in lipstick.

Care: Rouge Ecstasy offers the comfort and softness of a lip balm, leaving lips repaired and beautifully enhanced day after day. The ingredients include shea butter, jojoba oil, and other moisturizers.

Color: This velvety soft, everyday lipstick coats the lips in saturated, ultra-luminous shades with impeccable hold. Application is simple, precise, and effective - straight from the tube.

Rouge Ecstasy is available in 36 luminous shades, a broad palette of intense and vibrant colors to satisfy every desire. All of the Rouge Ecstasy shades are inspired by a particular memory or association for Mr. Armani - from Italy and Milan to the Red Carpet and Hollywood stars. The red lacquer cases with Armani's magnetic closure look pretty snazzy. Unfortunately, they clash with Boudoir and the more blue-toned shades.

Boudior is a "my lips but better" shade. For me, it's a perfect daytime shade, a wear-to-work shade. I took my swatch photos in full, mid-afternoon sun so that you could see why I love it so much.

This mauve pink is a shade that everyone can wear. It's not quite this shiny on the lips. It offers a magnificent luster, but not "sun" shine.

I'm not sure how Armani achieved the vivid pigmentation with the slight balm-like feel. As usual, Armani has offered us an innovation in color. These lipsticks feel fabulously moisturizing on my lips. They offer a subtle luster or gleam on the lips. As for impeccable hold? Maybe not. They give me good wear time, but it's not extraordinary. I am very tough on lipstick. Either I talk to often, or have peripheral loss through my use of Kleenex. I eat and drink too. All of these activities are tough on lipstick hold.

I'm thrilled with Boudoir! It's my favorite shade so far. I purchased mine at Saks Fifth Avenue. You can also find it at Giorgio Armani Beauty's Web site and other Armani retailers.

Photo at top courtesy of Giorgio Armani; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Eye Primer Duo

Tom Ford's unique, new Eye Primer Duo ($45) is a powder and cream primer that enhances the performance of eye shadow by preventing creasing and extending wear for up to 15 hours. The cream primer, which you apply first, features the Tom Ford infusing complex, which helps create a smooth look, while the oil-absorbing powder that you apply over the cream ensures superb color definition. Does it work? Yes, but what you want from an eye primer will determine whether you love it or not.

First, I will tell you that it works really well. I apply the cream in the bottom part of the flip-top jar with a touch-up brush intended for creams - the same brush I use to apply concealer. I apply the powder with a camouflage brush, only because it allows a tidy application without any flying powder near my eyes.

The cream is almost colorless when applied. I can see that it's there, but it doesn't effectively conceal the redness I have above the crease. It does even out my skin tone, partially concealing the redness, but it doesn't significantly improve my own coloring. The powder is white-ish when applied. The color isn't ghastly, as it might sound. It sets the cream and adds a touch of brightness to the eye area. That's nice.

I apply my color above the two layers, and the color adheres perfectly. It also stays put all day. Given that, I would declare Tom Ford's Eye Primer Duo a success. However, it is not a concealer. The eye primer I've been using, Edward Bess Illuminating Eyeshadow Base, which costs $30, does what the Tom Ford primer does with one step, and it conceals the redness in my eyes.

Those who have no need for a concealer in their primer will adore the Tom Ford eye primer. It is extremely nice (texture, wear, all the things we associate with Tom Ford Beauty) - and it's effective. Those who want their primer to conceal will want to save a few dollars and try the Edward Bess product. I must note, based on a recent comment, that the Edward Bess primer should not be applied from its own wand. That will apply too much product. Put a drop from the wand on your palm, and pick up the product with a cream shadow or touch-up brush for application.

Tom Ford's Eye Primer Duo was released with the fall collection, and it is available at all Tom Ford Counters. I purchased mine from Dustin Lujan at the John Barrett Salon in New York City. Right now, John Barrett is offering free shipping. You can reach Dustin there at (212) 872-2714.

Photo at top courtesy of Bergdorf Goodman